IMRF Honors Carpentersville Retiree's Service to Those in Need
Seventh volunteer to be honored by IMRF in 2015
The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) announced today that it is recognizing retiree Domingo Mata for his important volunteer work in Carpentersville. Mata is the seventh and final volunteer IMRF will honor in 2015.
All seven were nominated for recognition as part of IMRF's Year of the Volunteer contest, which spotlights volunteerism within IMRF's membership. IMRF will celebrate all seven volunteers in December at its Oak Brook headquarters, and announce one "Volunteer of the Year." A staff donation of $1,000 will be made to the winner's preferred service organization.
"Mr. Mata's volunteerism reminds all of us that age doesn't necessarily limit our ability to help others."-IMRF Executive Director Louis W. Kosiba
Mata, a Carpentersville resident, is a retiree of the Elk Grove School District 59. Along with his wife, Blanca, Mata has been volunteering at the Friend, I Shall Help (F.I.S.H.) Food Pantry in Carpentersville for over 20 years. F.I.S.H. provides assistance to local families or individuals in need, including lower income citizens and those affected by layoffs and unemployment.
"Volunteering provides my wife and I sense of structure, especially during retirement," Mata explains. "Volunteering at F.I.S.H. provides us with opportunities to meet new people. We not only contribute our skills and time towards a better cause, but we also receive joy in return."
IMRF Executive Director Louis W. Kosiba thanked Mata for his dedication to helping others. "Mr. Mata's volunteerism reminds all of us that age doesn't necessarily limit our ability to help others," Kosiba said. "His efforts should inspire us to consider how we might leverage our own unique skills to make a difference in our communities."
The Illinois Senate has declared 2015 the "Year of the Volunteer" in Illinois. The statewide initiative — sponsored by dozens of Illinois organizations including the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, Generations Serving Generations, and the Illinois Department on Aging — aims to increase volunteerism and strengthen Illinois' network of service organizations. IMRF is supporting the effort through promoting the "Year of the Volunteer" and available service opportunities; through an online survey that is gathering data on volunteerism in Illinois; and through IMRF's "Year of the Volunteer" story profile contest.
About IMRF
The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) was created by the Illinois General Assembly. Since 1941, IMRF has partnered with local units of government to provide retirement, disability and death benefits for public employees. With a funded status of about 93.1 percent and nearly $34.7 billion in assets, IMRF is well-funded and sustainable. Today, IMRF has more than 405,000 members and serves nearly 3,000 different units of government, including towns and villages, libraries and park districts, and counties and school districts (non-teaching personnel). The average member who retired in 2014 is receiving a monthly pension of $1,439.
